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Landmark sets the record straight about services provided to Alberta Health Services

Edmonton, Alberta, October 22, 2014

Landmark did not receive coaching contract from AHS and expresses concern about other inaccuracies in recent media coverage

In fairness to Alberta Health Services (AHS), Landmark’s many successful corporate clients, and the 2.2 million individuals around the world who have benefited from Landmark programmes—including more than 40,000 healthcare professionals and educators—Landmark would like to rectify some confusion created by recent media reports in Alberta.

An online article published by CBC on October 17 suggests that Landmark received a sole-source contract from Alberta Health Services for coaching services related to a Landmark training programme. This coaching agreement was between Alberta Health Services and another unrelated service provider. Landmark has never entered into a contractual agreement with Alberta Health Services

According to media reports, approximately 40 Alberta Health Services executives and directors individually chose to attend Landmark seminars.

Landmark was not aware of any AHS employees participating in a Landmark programme who complained about being pressured to attend its seminars until Landmark read about it in the media. In addition, Landmark was not part of, and was completely unaware of, any coaching services provided within AHS.

Landmark seminars and courses are very well known and have been used for decades by thousands of successful companies and institutions such as lululemon, Reebok, Apple, Mercedes-Benz USA, police departments and NASA, to name just a few. Landmark is transparent about the type of professional and personal training and development it provides, offers materials that explain the content of its courses, and believes its programmes can make a profound difference in the quality of people’s work and lives.

As with many things in life, Landmark’s services may not be for everyone. If someone feels uncomfortable with the format or with challenging themselves profoundly, Landmark encourages them to avoid the course. Landmark policy also stipulates that anyone participating in Landmark programmes do so at his or her own choice, not as a company-directed requirement. Landmark makes this clear to all participants in its programmes and to all organisations that inform the company they want to offer Landmark’s programmes to their employees.

What was said about Landmark’s courses and how they were promoted within Alberta Health Services is beyond Landmark’s control, but the company maintains that its programmes empower individuals and organisations to achieve outstanding performance and results. Landmark’s programmes, programme leaders, and ideas have been endorsed by thousands of accomplished leaders worldwide, including widely respected academics, top health professionals, CEOs of global corporations and internationally recognized humanitarians.

Essentially, Landmark believes its programmes and some of the facts have been mischaracterized, which is unfair to Alberta Health Services, to Landmark, and to the many people and organisations that have experienced profound positive change as a result of participating in Landmark programmes.

The media relied on a local professor’s commentary in their recent coverage and failed to balance their reporting with any of the highly regarded experts who personally observed Landmark programmes, including a former chief health officer of Western Australia, a retired CEO of the American Psychological Association, a renowned forensic psychiatrist from the University of Munich, and numerous other professionals of similar stature.

These experts have stated that Landmark’s programmes are neither psychological in nature nor harmful in any way, as well as attested to their benefits and efficacy. More than 40,000 health professionals and educators have participated in Landmark’s programmes, and of those independently surveyed by Harris Interactive, more than 94 per cent stated the programmes were professionally delivered and provided great value.

Landmark stands behind its programmes and its commitment to its customers being 100 per cent satisfied. In light of what Landmark has read in the media, the company is happy to provide a full refund to any AHS employee who was unsatisfied with a Landmark course or felt pressured to take it, or to the AHS in the event the agency had reimbursed the employee. Please contact Roy James at 604-639-5605 for refund details.

About Landmark

Now in its 23rd year, Landmark is a personal and professional growth, training and development company that has had more than 2.2 million people benefit from its programmes. In The Landmark Forum, Landmark’s flagship programme, people cause breakthroughs in their performance, communication, relationships and overall satisfaction in life. In addition to personal and professional breakthroughs, participants have generated more than 100,000 community projects around the world. For more information, please visit: www.landmarkworldwide.com.


CBC News: Alberta Health Services hired 'coach' to implement Landmark ideology, Friday, October 17. Accessed online at :www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-health-services-hired-coach-to-implement-landmark-ideology-1.2802283